A Critical Assessment of the Effectiveness of the U.S. Customs Service/U.S. Coast Guard/Department of Defense in Joint Counternarcotics Air Interdiction

Abstract

Abstract : This document examines Counternarcotics (CN) Air Interdiction (AI) coordination between the United States Customs Service (USCS), United States Coast Guard (USCG) and Department of Defense (DOD). USCS cooperation with the USCG and DOD has improved since the USCG and DOD became AI partners with Customs in 1987 and 1989 respectively. However, counterproductive CN agency practices continue, reducing AI effectiveness. Conclusions and recommendations spotlight the need to have one Operational Commander (OC), answerable to the Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) commonly known as the 'Drug Czar'. The OC would manage the actions of forces provided by the USCS, USCG and DOD. The OC would act as the the Drug Czar's chief of staff for Air Operations. The OC would have no ties to his/her parent or former agency. The paradigm to use as the alternative to present CN agency organization, is the DOD Joint Counternarcotics Air Interdiction; Customs, Coast Guard, DOD interagency coordination. unified CINC command structure. This structure was enriched by the 1986 Goldwater/ Nichols Defense reorganization Act. This act allows the unified CINC greater managerial freedom in executing warfare operations. operational successes, that were greatly served by this act, were General Thurman's 1989 exploits in Panama and General Schwartzkopf's accomplishments in Kuwait/Iraq.